Harvard vs. Bard College

Deciding between Harvard University and Bard College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Harvard University
Bard College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Bard College Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Bard College 2,911
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Bard College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Bard College #184
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Bard College -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Bard College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Bard College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Bard College $66,436
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Bard College $18,852
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Bard College $29,320
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Bard College $55,235
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Bard College 74%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Bard College 7,583
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Bard College 3,952
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Bard College 52.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Bard College 12.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Bard College 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Bard College 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Bard College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Bard College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Bard College Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Bard College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Bard College 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Bard College 1270/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Bard College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Bard College Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Bard College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Bard College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • General Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Bard College 76%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Bard College $41,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Bard College 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Bard College $26,194
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Bard College $270

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Bard College 42%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Bard College 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Bard College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Bard College No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Bard College 63%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Bard College 6%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Bard College 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Bard College 1%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Bard College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Bard College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Bard College 0%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Bard College 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Bard College 11%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Bard College 30%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Bard College 60%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Harvard Yes
  • Bard College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Harvard Yes
  • Bard College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Harvard Yes
  • Bard College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Harvard No
  • Bard College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Harvard Yes
  • Bard College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Bard College based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 2,911 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Bard College is in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Bard College 9:1.

Harvard vs. Bard College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Bard College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than Bard College ($17,525 vs. $29,320).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bard College are 11% lower than at Harvard University ($18,852 vs. $21,190).
  • Bard College is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $4,760 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.7% higher at Bard College than at Harvard University (about $4,760 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bard College than at Harvard University (74% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 23.1% larger than aid received by Bard College students ($68,015 vs. $55,235).

Harvard vs. Bard College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or Bard College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Bard College and Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 190 points higher than at Bard College (1360).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 30 at Bard College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Bard College 1270/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Bard College 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Bard College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Bard College Jan 1, 2027.
  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.1%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 12.8% at Bard College.

Harvard vs. Bard College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Bard College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Bard College's (76%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $95,100 more per year than Bard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $19,694 lower median loan debt than Bard College graduates ($6,500 vs. $26,194).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $203 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bard College graduates ($67 vs. $270).
  • More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.